Lightning strike kills man in Bokaro as rain brings relief from heat in Jharkhand

Ranchi/Bokaro/Hazaribag: A 21-year-old man died after being struck by lightning in Bokaro district on Friday as heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning brought relief from sweltering heat across the state.

Amit Mahto was watching a game of cricket at his native Babudih village under Pindrajora police station when it began raining. Amit, who had taken shelter under a tree, was struck by lightning moments later. He died while being taken for treatment.

Heavy rain led to waterlogging in several parts of Bokaro. Streets in Chas Township remained partially submerged for hours. Residents welcomed the showers. Rekha Kumari, a resident of Cooperative Colony, said, “The rain brought welcome relief from the unbearable heat as mercury hovered around 43 degrees Celsius.” In Hazaribag, heavy rain pulled down daytime temperature by five degrees. Sky remained overcast and power supply was disrupted due to rain.

The Ranchi office of the India Meteorological Department said thundershowers accompanied by gusty wind with speeds of up to 50 kilometres an hour is likely in northwestern parts of Jharkhand till June 3. “For the time being, the weather will be cooler,” deputy director of IMD Ranchi, Abhishek Anand, said.

Met office said Manjhari in West Singhbhum district received 49.3 mm in the past 24 hours. At 43.8 degrees C, the highest maximum temperature was recorded in Daltonganj. Ranchi recorded 27.8 degrees C.